Apartment Therapy tours give us the chance to see how other people live their lives, and we are all the richer for being invited into their homes. Today, we’re taking a look at all the custom ways that Chris maximized space in his small Chicago studio. Chris is a DIY guy, so there’s lots of unique inspiration to absorb and plenty of innovative ideas to take away.

KITCHEN

Above, Chris installed a swinging table/shelf near the window in the small studio kitchen. He can tuck stools underneath when not in use, and reduce the footprint of his eating space.

BEDROOM

A loft bed provides more opportunities for space. When he first moved in, the mattress was much higher — about three feet from the ceiling, which allowed more headroom and even seating down below. Not comfortable with it, he lowered the bed to be closer to the floor. It now just functions as clothing storage, with a dresser just tall enough to fit underneath. Instead of a nightstand, Chris nailed small shelves to the actual bed frame. They are up high and out of the way.

The raised shelf on the bedroom window sill serves two purposes. It lifts the surface so you can actually see and reach what lives there. It also creates a two-tiered system that doubles the storage space.